By JOLENE OGLE
NOOSA MP Glen Elmes has described the State Budget as “workman-like” as he warns of a tight budget and asks everyone to “share the burden”.
“This is not a budget of benefits for specific community sectors,” Mr Elmes said.
“All Queenslanders are being asked to share the burden of getting the state out of the huge hole left by Labor, and this budget will see that task largely achieved.”
As the budget was released on Tuesday, Mr Elmes said it was important for the state to go from debt to surplus and said this budget would be the last one in deficit, with the next budget promised to be in surplus.
“The budget is responsible and stabilises the state’s financial position to lay the foundation to return to balanced budgets from next year on,” Mr Elmes said.
Mr Elmes said some of the highlights for the Noosa region included a share in $8 million of statewide grant funding available for local projects under the Safe Night Out Strategy.
Under this budget, an extra $638,000 will be available for non-government organisations to deliver homelessness services, which Mr Elmes described as a major issue in Noosa.
A total of $1.47 million will be given to child safety services, with $4.70 million for disability services, and local state schools will receive $811,000 in funding as part of the Great Results Guarantee initiative.
A $50,000 upgrade is planned for the changerooms and construction of disability toilets at Chaplin Park, Noosaville, plus $350,000 is set aside to replace visitor amenities and improve canoe and boat access to Fig Tree Point in a bid to stop erosion.
“Noosa residents will benefit along with all Queenslanders from the careful planning and responsible allocation of funding within the budget to achieve the maximum benefits for all Queenslanders,” Mr Elmes said.
The government will also consider selling of “some” assets such as water and electricity, Mr Elmes said.
“The Strong Choices campaign showed us that a large number of people, 46 per cent, are in favour of selling some assets. So we will look at that,” Mr Elmes said.
“The total value of the State’s assets is approximately $291 billion, and we’re looking at selling about 11 per cent of that. So, we’re not selling all the family silver.”
Of the budget, Mr Elmes said the good news is “there are no new taxes, health spending is up six per cent and education spending is up seven per cent.
